Antiandrogens not just for hair/acne issues?

tlcrowe · 07-17-2009, 10:38 PM

Hi everyone, this is only my 2nd post and I have another question... I was recently dx (amenorrhea, polycystic ovaries, but underweight, no acne etc.) and upon extra bloodwork that was done, my doctor informed me that my androgen levels were elevated. The testosterone/insulin/cholesterol level results are still pending but she did, in fact, say that some type of androgens were too high in my results. I know I'm jumping the gun here by not waiting for the rest of my results but I am awfully concerned about excess androgens.

I have looked though threads here and online and all the anti-androgen medications I read about seem to focus so much on alleviating symptoms like excess body hair and acne, but not on actually preventing/getting rid of androgens. I do not suffer from acne, hair loss, or excessive body hair so they have never been a problem for me. I found one long, thick whisker on my chin at one point but otherwise, I don't appear masculine at all, however, my breasts have shrunk nearly two cup sizes since I was in high school.

So to my question....are there any anti-androgen medications that help with the main cause of excess androgens and not just acne/hair issues? Obviously androcur, sprin. and all those others help to minimize androgens, but is there anything that combats it straight from the cause and not just after pre-existing symptoms? Or am I just missing the point that these can help in other areas just because so much attention is paid to the hair/acne part?

Also, I am extremely adverse to taking any type of BCP to lower androgens. They make me absolutely neurotic and exacerbate my depression/anxiety/hot temper, plus I feel that they are just bad news, period. At this point, I just want to stop going 5 months without AF, and" anti-androgen-ize" my body as much as possible so my hormones will calm down

Future fertility issues concern me as well, so I definately don't want to try anything that could make ttc even harder than it already might be.

Thanks in advance for any help!

KatCarney · 07-18-2009, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlcrowe

I have looked though threads here and online and all the anti-androgen medications I read about seem to focus so much on alleviating symptoms like excess body hair and acne, but not on actually preventing/getting rid of androgens.

It's not accurate to suggest that common anti-androgens are just for the outward symptoms of elevated androgens. In fact, flutamide isn't even fda approved for use in women. It's primarily a prostate cancer drug. This link explains how the two most common anti-androgens rx for women with pcos work:

How Do Flutamide, Spironolactone/Aldactone work (or not work) to reduce hirsutism?

Quote:

They make me absolutely neurotic and exacerbate my depression/anxiety/hot temper,

There are some studies that suggest that depression in pcos is due to androgen issues.

Pink Nails · 10-29-2009, 05:41 PM

Also, I am extremely adverse to taking any type of BCP to lower androgens. They make me absolutely neurotic and exacerbate my depression/anxiety/hot temper, plus I feel that they are just bad news, period. At this point, I just want to stop going 5 months without AF, and" anti-androgen-ize" my body as much as possible so my hormones will calm down

Interesting post. I understand completely and think you are ahead of the game, that is good. I got diagnosed years ago and took BCP and kind of ignored the underlying issue that I now want to resolve.

In your case being underweight may be causing extra androgens sometimes that happens with athletes. I have a BMI of 19 but am not skinny. I understand about the BCP and completly agree with the neurotic/anxiety/hot temper problem. I do get my period but it is light now after years on BCP, it used to be very heavy.

Kat's respnse was helpful and I read all the flutmide articles. I also BADLY want to "anti-androgen-ize" my body. I am feminine featured but have teeny boobs (excess adrenal adrogens AA = AA cup size!) which is not consistent with the other women in my family, I feel like it is due to the excess androgen. Luckily my body copes amazingly well with extra DHEA but why suffer neadlessly? Maybe excess AA it can be suppressed so my body can heal is my new theory only I need a endo to agree with me. They all say I look fine so don't worry about it.

CandiKisses · 11-06-2009, 12:10 PM

My guess would be spiro or fluta. I'm going to try and go on one of those hopefully. I havent met my endo yet but im gonna ask him. Its so funny you're the first person i met that says the same thing i say. Back in high school i had bigger boobs too. I'm 21 now.